The City of Newburgh Water Department held an open house and tour of its water plant last Saturday. The event also featured a visit to Browns Pond.

Wayne Vradenburgh, Water Department Superintendent, led the tour. Since his youth, Vradenburgh has wanted to make a difference for the City. He found himself falling in love with the department, and has been with the department for almost 25 years. He currently manages 19 full time workers. The department has downsized over the years.

Vradenburgh emphasized that the department is customer oriented. “My goal is to make sure you have the best water quality at the cheapest rate,” said Vradenburgh.

During his career Vradenburgh has made leak detection a priority. “The plant was so out of wack because of all the leaks,” said Vradenburgh. Before, there were 6 million gallons of water leaving the water plant every day. The plant now loses 2.8 million gallons of water a day due to Vradenburgh’s efforts to close off leaks.

“We cut about 65 percent of our loss,” said Vradenburgh. “Which adds money to the truck fund. We don’t have to raise more rates [to fund the department’s needs].”

One of the other major points in his career has been dealing with 2016’s PFAS/PFOS water contamination at Washington Lake. During a meeting at Stewart Air National Guard Base, “a four star general said to me, you know, ‘we need to work together,’ said Vradenburgh. “I said, ‘you took something from me.’”

Vradenburgh expressed that since the contamination, residents have become increasingly wary of the water department. One of the reasons he does the open house tours is to regain the public’s trust. Since the water contamination, Washington Lake has been indefinitely shut down as the city’s water source.

The city currently uses Browns Pond and the Catskills Aqueduct as its water sources. Although the city will be using the Catskills Aqueduct as the main water source until the aqueduct’s upcoming fall shutdown, the city will be using Browns Pond for five days in March while infrastructure work is done.

Vradenburgh explained that switching water sources takes weeks to prepare for.

Since the switching of water sources, residents have expressed concerns about the drinking water quality. Residents complain over the smell and taste of chlorine in their water.

“People call us and [say], you know, ‘chlorine is sky high,’ said Vradenburgh. “No, chlorine is always tracked here.” Sometimes the smell of chlorine can be attributed to the conditions of one’s sink drain.

“That cold water can go down your drain, and there’s byproducts and stuff in your drain,” said Vradenburgh. “When that cold water reacts to those byproducts, it leaves off a gas.”

The taste of chlorine in the winter time can be attributed to the fact that chlorine takes longer to dissipate in cold temperatures. “The chlorine is still within drinking water standards,” said Vradenburgh. “But it might be on the higher end of the drinking water standards.”

The water department addresses every complaint as serious. Vradenburgh sends staff members to every house that makes a call, and has the house’s water tested. A report is written on whether or not the water meets standards.

Before the city’s water is sent to the tap system, it is tested 700 times by the department. While in comparison, bottled water is tested only four times before it’s sold to consumers.

Water issues can also be attributed to issues in lead pipeline corrosion. The city has been continuously awarded money from the state’s lead service line protection program to replace private lead pipe-lines that have exhibited issues.

Vradenburgh explained that the city was recently awarded $500,000 to continue to replace lead pipe-lines. The city covers up to $10,000 of the replacement cost per replacement. One first has to notify the department if they believe they have a lead service pipeline issue. Once the need for replacement has been determined, one has to fill out an application to get their line replaced. Because the lines are private, the city hires contractors to replace the lines.

Throughout the tour, Vradenburgh answered questions from attendees and gave tips. Attendees asked questions about the city’s water sources, testing standards, and more.

“Any source, no matter what, has to meet drinking water standards,” said Vradenburgh.

The city’s water plant runs 24/7 and the staff works around the clock to ensure adequate water quality for the city.

Residents with questions and concerns are encouraged to contact the water department at (845) 565-3356.